CROLL-REYNOLDS

VACUUM

SYSTEMS

THE LEADER IN VACUUM SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY

Croll-Reynolds is the leading source for

innovative, high-performance vacuum
systems for all segments of the Process
Industries. State-of-the-art design,
production and test facilities create an
environment for the manufacture of
consistently superior systems and
components.
Applications include crystallization,
deaeration, drying and cooling of liquids
and solids, high vacuum distillation,
metallurgy, vegetable oil refining, and the
processing of essential oils, food
products, flavorings, fertilizers, and a
broad range of chemical products.

A Century of Innovation
Croll-Reynolds reputation for the
highest quality is an outgrowth of its
years of service to the Process
Industries. Since 1917 when it became
the preeminent supplier of customdesigned vacuum systems in the world,
Croll-Reynolds has engaged in an
intensive program of research and
development. Croll-Reynolds design
engineers and support professionals
have achieved an unparalleled depth of
experience and continue to set benchmarks for the industry.

Serving all segments of the Process Industries

CHEMICAL

Ejectors

Single-nozzle and multiple-nozzle designs for

operation with steam, liquid, gas or vapor motives.

Rotajectors

Combined Ejectors/Condenser/Liquid Ring Pumps

for generating high vacuum with low pressure steam.

Chill-Vactors

High efficiency, high volume vacuum flash cooling

systems for quick chilling of liquids and bulk materials
without the need for compressors or refrigerants.

Thermocompressors

Single-nozzle, multiple-nozzle and spindle-operated

Ejectors used to recompress, and reclaim spent
steam, and process fluids.

PETROCHEMICAL PHARMACEUTICAL

PAPER

AEROSPACE

Core-Chillers High efficiency vacuum cooling systems for the

food industry.
Wet Scrubbers Jet Venturi / Packed Towers / High Energy

FOOD

For further information, visit www.croll.com

CROLL-REYNOLDS
VACUUM

SYSTEMS

EJECTORS
Steam jet ejectors offer a reliable and
economical means for producing
vacuum.The primary advantages of the
steam jet ejector are its low initial cost,
lack of moving parts, and simplicity of
operation.
The conventional steam jet ejector
has four basic parts; the steam chest, the
nozzle(s), the mixing chamber and the
diffuser.The adjacent diagram illustrates
basic ejector operation: a high pressure
motivating fluid enters at 1 and expands
through the converging-diverging nozzle
to 2; suction fluid enters at 3 and mixes
with the motivating fluid in the mixing
chamber 4; both are then recompressed
through the diffuser to 5.
Croll-Reynolds exclusive ejector
design, represents nearly a century of
innovation.

Single-stage Ejectors are used to create

vacuum ranging from atmosphere to 3
Hg absolute. Higher vacuum, ranging
from 3 Hg absolute to 3 microns Hg
absolute, may be achieved by multiple
staging. Multiple-staged systems often
include surface or direct contact type
condensers. Intercondensers reduce
motive steam requirements and, under
certain conditions, permit recovery of
product condensate.
Croll-Reynolds multiple-staged
systems are custom-engineered for
optimum performance and minimum
utility consumption.They are designed
to handle a variety of process gases
including air, water, HCl, butane, SO2,
ethylene glycol, and many other organic
and inorganic vapors. Where conditions
warrant, corrosion-resistant materials of
construction are utilized.
While most Ejectors are steam
motivated, other fluids can be used. For
example, to maintain the purity of a
product, a process compatible fluid can
serve as the motive fluid.
Croll-Reynolds supplies complete
packaged, turnkey systems which include
Ejectors, Condensers, Interconnecting
Piping, Instrumentation, and Electronic
Controls.

Ejector Construction
The simplicity of the Croll-Reynolds
Ejector design permits fabrication from
any workable or weldable material such
as: cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel,
Monel,Teflon, Hastelloy, Ni-Resist, Haveg,
graphite-lined and rubber-lined carbon
steel, titanium and fiberglass reinforced
plastic (FRP).

Nozzle Mixing
Motive
Fluid

2
1

Venturi Throat

5
Suction

Motivating Fluid

Pressures

Multiple-Stage Ejectors

5
Motivating Fluid
Suction Fluid
Mixture

Velocities

Steam Jet Ejector Operation

BASIC EJECTOR OPERATION

A high pressure motivating fluid enters at 1 and

expands through the converging-diverging nozzle to
2; the suction fluid enters at 3 and mixes with the
motivating fluid in the mixing chamber 4; both are
then recompressed through the diffuser to 5.

SINGLE-NOZZLE EJECTOR

Single-Nozzle Ejectors are used for either critical or

non-critical flow, but usually for only one set of
design conditions.

MULTIPLE NOZZLE EJECTOR

Croll-Reynolds Multiple-Nozzle Ejectors are

unique in both design and performance. In most
cases, they offer steam savings of 10% to 20%
when compared with single-nozzle units designed
for the same conditions.

SPINDLE-OPERATED EJECTOR

Spindle-Operated Ejectors are indicated wherever

suction or discharge pressures vary. During
operation, a pneumatically-driven tapered spindle
moves in and out of the nozzle orifice to control
motive fluid flow.

FIVE STAGE SYSTEM

Multiple-staged systems often include surface or direct contact type condensers. Croll-Reynolds multiplestaged systems are custom-engineered for optimum performance and minimum utility consumption.

For further information, visit www.croll.com

CROLL-REYNOLDS
VACUUM

SYSTEMS

ROTAJECTOR
Chemical Industry
FOUR-STAGE ROTAJECTOR SYSTEM

High efficiency Rotajector systems,

designed for operation with low
pressure steam, are used for process
applications including distillation, evacuation, drying, crystallization, evaporation
and cooling.

Rotajectors, such as the four-stage system

shown here, operate at the same capacities
and suction pressures as conventional
ejector systems, but with reduced steam
consumption.

Pharmaceutical Industry
Vacuum drying at a relatively low
temperature is critical in many pharmaceutical applications where heatsensitive compounds could be
destroyed by alternative drying
methods.

Food Industry

Reliable high vacuum system

Designed for use with low pressure
steam
Reduced steam consumption
Designed for low elevation installation
Low purchase and operation costs
Custom-designed for each application
Rising energy costs have created an
increased demand for process vacuum
systems which operate at the lowest
possible cost.To answer this need, CrollReynolds pioneered the research and
development of the Rotajector, a
combined Ejector/Condenser/Liquid
Ring Pump high vacuum system.

Configurations
Croll-Reynolds Rotajector systems are
manufactured in up to six-stage configurations and in a wide range of capacities. Design and configuration flexibility
makes the Rotajector a highly versatile
vacuum system, readily adapted to a
variety of process applications.

Ejector

Steam

Steam

Condenser
Water Inlet

Operation
In a typical rotajector, such as the fourstage configuration shown above,
process gases or vapors are drawn into
the suction port of the first stage
Ejector and compressed by subsequent
stages.The condenser cools the gases
and condenses the vapors, thus
reducing the load to the liquid ring
vacuum pump, which serves as the final
compression stage.The pump also
handles condensate, eliminating the
need for a condensate removal pump.

The high vacuum created by a

Rotajector results in flash evaporative
cooling of food products thus
preserving flavor, color and freshness
without the need for preservatives or
flavor enhancing additives. For chilling
just-cooked foods, Rotajectors offer the
advantage of using the same low
pressure steam source that is used for
cooking.

Condenser

Outlet

Condensate

Non-condensible vapors
to atmosphere

Liquid-ring
vacuum
pump
Motor

In this low-maintenance system, the only moving part is the impeller of the liquid-ring vacuum pump. And,
no special vacuum oils, lubricants or special cooling systems are needed.

For further information, visit www.croll.com

CROLL-REYNOLDS
VACUUM

SYSTEMS

CHILL-VACTOR
Cond.
Water
Inlet

Evactor
Air Pump

Discharge to Hotwell

Barometric
Condenser

First stage
Evactor
Booster

Second Stage
Evactor
Booster

Chill
Tank

Steam
Supply

Chill-Vactors are used where large flow

rates of cool water are continuously
required, such as in the paper and pharmaceutical industries.
The Croll-Reynolds Chill-Vactor is a
highly reliable vacuum flash cooling
system with applications in water
chilling, food processing and a variety of
industrial uses. Chill-Vactors installed as
long as forty years ago are still in
operation.
Automatic controllers can be added
to enhance Chill-Vactor efficiency by
reducing energy used during off-peak
demand periods. For example, a ratio
controller will provide up to 40% in
steam savings by throttling motive steam
pressure when condensing water
temperature is below design specifications.

Paper Industry

Water
Inlet

Steam Supply

Level
Controller

Chilled Water
Discharge

Hotwell

Chill-Vactors are used for chilling and

deaerating water to absorb the chlorine
dioxide used in paper bleaching operations. Due to the greater solubility of
chlorine dioxide in cold deaerated
water, the bleaching agent is more efficiently absorbed.

Pharmaceutical Industry
A series of Ejectors reduce pressure in the chill
tank resulting in the flash evaporation of the
incoming water. The latent heat of vaporization
required in this phase change is supplied by
liquid resulting in a lower liquid temperature.
Each stage of the system achieves successively
lower liquid temperatures.

Highly reliable chilling systems

Deaerate liquids as they are chilled
Custom-designed
Eliminate hazardous and corrosive
refrigerants
Designed for outdoor installation
Require no operating supervision
Virtually maintenance free

Chill-Vactors produce the high volume

of chilled water required to manufacture organic acids, vitamins, antibiotics
and synthetic medicines.

Food Industry
Croll-Reynolds vacuum cooling systems
are manufactured for applications which
require batch or continuous cooling.
They are widely used for chilling foods
such as: leafy vegetables lettuce,
cabbage cut, diced or mashed
potatoes, sauces, small fruits,
mushrooms, grains, meat, fowl parts, fish
and shrimp.

Other Applications
Additional Chill-Vactor applications
include the cooling of sod, tobacco,
sand, gravel and other granular
materials.
For further information, visit www.croll.com

CASE STUDY

Chill-Vactor Provides Reliable,

Around the-Clock Service for
Paper Mill.
A paper mill needed to double its
chilled water production to support
an expanded chlorine dioxide plant. A
constant source of chilled, deaerated
water was imperative for chlorine
dioxide absorption. Mechanical refrigeration was considered, but the CrollReynolds Chill-Vactor proved to be
superior.
The new unit had to cool 600 gpm
of water from 85F to 45F, or the
equivalent of 1000 tons of refrigerant.
The unit was to work with another,
smaller Chill-Vactor installed 10 years
earlier that was still providing troublefree operation.The new maintenancefriendly unit is equipped with remoteoperating controls, and the closedloop system uses steam efficiently for
lower utility costs.The Chill-Vactor
easily meets all of the mills chilled
water requirements.

CROLL-REYNOLDS
VACUUM

SYSTEMS

THERMOCOMPRESSORS
Reclaim waste steam
Reduce steam/water consumption
Custom-designed
Single-nozzle, multiple-nozzle and
spindle-operated configurations
In theory, a Thermocompressor and an
Ejector are identical.The difference lies
only in the application. Ejectors are used
to produce a vacuum. A Thermocompressor is used to entrain and
compress a low pressure fluid to an
intermediate reusable pressure/temperature.The resultant recompressed fluid
can then be used for another process
and its heat value, which might
otherwise have been wasted, reclaimed.
Croll-Reynolds Thermocompressors
are available in single-nozzle, multiplenozzle and spindle-operated configurations.They are used throughout the
Process Industries.

In the Petrochemical and Chemical Process Industries, Croll-Reynolds Thermocompressors recycle waste
steam and reduce energy consumption by 30% or more.

Thermocompressor Operation
During operation, the mixture of motive
steam and entrained fluid is recompressed through the diffuser, which
converts velocity energy to pressure
energy.The recompressed vapor can be
reclaimed for return to the process.

Chemical Processing and

Petrochemical Industries
Dryers, stills, strippers and deodorizers
usually discharge water vapor at relatively low pressures.Thermocompressors reclaim this vapor

Paper Industry
Thermocompressors compensate for
changes in the temperature and
discharge pressures of steam dryers
while reclaiming waste steam.

Pharmaceutical Industry

This triple-effect, falling-film, dairy products evaporator produces as much as 150,000 gallons of
condensed milk per hour. A thermocompressor
between the first and second effects reduces steam
consumption. As a result, the evaporator uses less
water and requires less heat transfer area.

Heat-sensitive chemicals are usually

vacuum dried at relatively low temperatures.Thermocompressors operate efficiently at these temperatures and
therefore provide an excellent means
for reclaiming waste steam.

Food Industry
Tomato paste and other food concentrates, as well as dairy products, are
produced in evaporators and dryers.
Thermocompressors recover the
vapors removed from food products
during the concentration process.

For further information, visit www.croll.com

Multiple-nozzle assembly viewed through the

suction connection.

CROLL-REYNOLDS
VACUUM

SYSTEMS

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL: MEETING THE CHALLENGE

Specialized Applications
EtO/PO Scrubbers

Ethylene Oxide gas (EtO) is used to

reduce or render inactive microbial
populations in sterilization processes.
Propylene Oxide (PO) and Ethylene
Oxide are also utilized as precursors in
the production of a number of critical
chemicals.
Croll-Reynolds proprietary EtO/PO
scrubbing systems utilize absorption and
hydrolysis of these oxides to glycols to
effectively treat EtO and PO contaminated gases. Efficiencies greater than
99.99% can be guaranteed. Fully
automated systems are available.
The California site of the TRW Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) laser project is one of the worlds largest
vacuum and air pollution control installations. Ejectors manufactured by Croll-Reynolds simulate the
atmosphere of space for the testing of a hydrogen/fluorine laser. Gases produced during laser generation
are removed by a Croll-Reynolds custom-designed Packed Tower Scrubber.

For over 40 years Croll-Reynolds has

provided solutions to those faced with
the challenge of efficient resource
utilization and the responsibility for
meeting stringent emission standards.
Current and proposed regulations call
for swift compliance, while the recovery
and reuse of valuable process vapor has
become standard operating procedure
throughout the world.
Regardless of the air pollutant or
industrial source, Croll-Reynolds has the
engineering know-how and application
experience to design and manufacture a
system to meet the most demanding
performance requirements.

System Design
Croll-Reynolds offers a full range of air
pollution control technologies. Our
engineers are prepared to analyze your
requirements and engineer a solution
for virtually any application. From a
single-stage, stand alone unit to an
automated, multi-stage system complete
with state-of-the-art instrumentation
and programmable logic controllers,
Croll-Reynolds team of chemical,
mechanical and electrical engineers will
work together to meet your performance needs.

We specialize in the design of High

Energy Venturi Scrubbers, Jet Venturi
Scrubbers and Packed Towers. CrollReynolds strength lies in its ability to
integrate these products into a solution
tailored to meet the most exacting
requirements.

Solving Problems Others

Wont Touch
Years of research and innovative engineering experience have earned CrollReynolds a reputation for resolving the
most difficult challenges. We have
handled a wide variety of toxic,
hazardous, common, and uncommon
gases, including:
HCl, HF, HBr, H2S, SO2, NH3, Cl2,
Alcohols, Silicon Dioxide, Silicon,
Tetrachloride, Fine Oil Mist, Boron,
Trifluoride, Organic Anhydrides, Sulfuric
Acid Mist, Lime Dust, Phosgene,
Ethylene Oxidel Propylene, Oxide,
VOCs... to name a few!
.

For further information, visit www.croll.com

NOx Scrubbers

Conventional scrubbers are limited to

low NOx removal efficiencies due to
the nature of the aqueous absorption
chemistry involved. Croll-Reynolds
patented Surface Active media effectively overcomes those limitations
without the need for exotic or
expensive chemicals or a costly and
complex operational scheme.
This technology is particularly well
suited for applications where the
infamous orange plume is produced
by high levels of NO2.

CROLL-REYNOLDS
VACUUM

SYSTEMS

WET SCRUBBERS
Scrubbing liquid in

Contaminated
gas in

Injector type
spray nozzle

Venturi throat

Impact
separator

Clean
gas out
liquid
reservoir
Scrubbing
liquid out

JET VENTURI SCRUBBER

Motivating fluid exits the nozzle in a hollow cone

spray pattern, creating a draft. Contact between
the scrubbing liquid and the gas results in high
gas mass transfer and/or particulate capture.
This mixture discharges into a Croll-Reynolds
designed separator.

Jet Venturi Scrubber

The Jet Venturi Scrubber utilizes a liquid
motivated ejector design to entrain
contaminated gases, generally without
the need for a blower.The relatively
high liquid-to-gas ratio, liquid atomization, and open internal design provide
effective scrubbing of heavily contaminated gases with minimal maintenance
and virtually unlimited turndown capabilities.
Its ability to handle
wide ranging conditions makes the Jet
Venturi one of the
most flexible designs
available. It is often
used as a first stage in
a multi-stage air pollution
control system.

The Croll-Reynolds Jet-Venturi Fume

Scrubber is one of the most economical
answers to the growing problem of air
pollution. It is an efficient means for
minimizing smoke and undesirable
odors, cleaning and purifying air and
other gases as well as reclaiming
valuable product which may be
exhausting to atmosphere. It can also be
used as a concentrator by having the
motivating fluid adsorb the fume for
recirculation until a desired concentration is reached. And the Fume
Scrubber can do all this with a
minimum of maintenance since
there are no moving parts and
because it operates at low
velocities.

For further information, visit www.croll.com

CROLL-REYNOLDS
VACUUM

SYSTEMS

CASE STUDY
Clean gas out

Clean gas out

Mist
eliminator
Scrubbing
liquid in
Liquid
distributor

Contaminated
gas in

"Polishing"
mist
eliminator

Scrubbing
liquid in
Venturi
throat
Cyclonic
mist/gas
separation

Packed bed

Wetted
elbow

Contaminated
gas in
liquid
reservoir
Scrubbing
liquid out

PACKED TOWER SCRUBBER

Utilizing the most modern packing designs to

provide contact between gas and liquid streams,
the Packed Tower Scrubber achieves the
extremely low toxic gas discharge limits required
to meet emission standards.

liquid
reservoir

Scrubbing
liquid out

HIGH ENERGY VENTURI SCRUBBER

Energy from a high-velocity, dust laden gas

stream is used to atomize a liquid stream.
Cyclonic gas flow in the separator drives the dust
laden liquid to the outside wall. The liquid is
collected and returned to the sump.

Packed Tower Scrubber

High Energy Venturi Scrubber

The Croll-Reynolds Packed Tower

Scrubber utilizes a vertical countercurrent design for highly efficient
absorption of a variety of toxic gases. In
addition to its extensive use in air
pollution control, the Packed Tower can
serve as a gas/liquid contactor in a
number of process applications.
Efficiencies of 99.99% and greater are
not unusual for many scrubbing applications.
During operation, gas flows upward
through a packed bed while scrubbing
liquid flows down (by gravity) over the
packing material.The counter-flow
design principle offers optimal mass
transfer. Croll-Reynolds supplies cross
flow and co-current flow Packed Tower
designs as well.

The High Energy Venturi Scrubber is

ideally suited to the capture of small
particles less than 3 microns in size. It is
effective as well in the submicron range
and requires little or no maintenance.
For applications where variations in
gas flow require throat gas velocity
compensation to maintain specified
scrubbing efficiencies, Croll-Reynolds
offers automatic and manually variable
throat designs.The automatic throat is
used where flow conditions vary widely
and frequent adjustments are required.
When occasional variations occur, a
manually-controlled throat is available.

For further information, visit www.croll.com

Systems Work Together for HCl

Removal and Recovery
A specialty chemical manufacturer
was looking for a way to remove HCl
from its off-gas before it was
discharged to the atmosphere.
Croll-Reynolds designed and manufactured a system which uses two Jet
Venturi Fume Scrubbers in series,
followed by two Packed Towers in
series. Intimate mixing of the gas
stream and scrubbing liquid allows the
Jet Venturi Scrubbers to remove 98%
of the HCl and the Packed Towers to
remove the remainder. The Jet Venturi
Scrubbers collect 98% of the HCl
while creating a marketable aqueous
HCl solution. The Packed Towers
recirculate the diluted NaOH
solution, and polish the gas stream
to meet low HCl discharge limits.
The units have proved to be
virtually maintenance free, with final
emissions concentrations of approximately 2 PPM. Liquid waste production is minimal and the recovery of
marketable HCl has offset the cost of
the system.

CROLL-REYNOLDS
VACUUM

SYSTEMS

ENGINEERING: QUALITY, PERFORMANCE

AND RESPONSIVENESS TO OUR CUSTOMERS NEEDS
Operational and Application
Support
Croll-Reynolds engineers are always
available to assist with application and
technical matters as well as with system
operation. Croll-Reynolds field representatives are trained in the technical and
operational aspects of our products.

Quality Manufacturing/Quality
Control

Innovative Engineering

Life-Cycle Product Support

Croll-Reynolds commitment to its

customers begins with a thorough evaluation of such factors as applications
feasibility, operational efficiency, performance requirements and cost effectiveness.The success of any installation is
virtually assured before it goes on-line.
Sophisticated Computer Aided
Design and Finite Element Analysis
programs permit Croll-Reynolds
engineers to share information
throughout the design process. Careful
attention to detail during all phases of
design and test results in products that
consistently exceed customer
expectations.

Croll-Reynolds stands behind every

installation from design through
operation. As part of its commitment to
customer support, life-cycle records are
maintained on every vacuum system.
Records include: system and component
specifications, detailed lists of parts and
construction materials, and performance
data.
Whenever upgrade components or
replacement parts are required, they are
supplied to the specifications of the
original equipment with the added
benefits of enhancements in technology,
design, materials and production
techniques.

For further information, visit www.croll.com

Manufacturing and test facilities in the

United States, as well as in the Far East,
include a wide range of state-of-the-art
automated machine tools. Shop and
supervisory personnel, many with
more than 35 years of experience
at Croll-Reynolds, take pride in
a total team effort. Every
project is monitored by quality
control professionals.
All equipment is
designed and manufactured to meet or exceed
industry standards and all applicable codes (HEI,TEMA, RTP-1, ASME).

Croll-Reynolds Research and

Test Centers
Croll-Reynolds Research and Test
Centers provide a real-world environment for the pilot development of
custom systems and new product
concepts.
Multiple steam generation facilities
offer the flexibility and capacity required
to test systems and components prior
to shipment.

For further information, visit www.croll.com